Ex-Lockheed Engineer Claims F-22 Skin 'Defective'

The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) -- A former engineer for defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. claims in a federal lawsuit that the company knowingly used "defective" stealth coatings when building its F-22 Raptor jets.

Darrol Olsen claims Lockheed had "falsely certified" the coatings between 1995 and 1999, saying they had passed stealth tests and concealed test results that showed otherwise.

Olsen says he was told to "stay out of it" when he complained about the issue to his superiors.

Lockheed says the allegations have no merit and it will "vigorously defend this matter in court." The Air Force did not immediately comment.

The case comes a month after President Barack Obama signed a measure ending production of the superfighter. Critics argue more money should be spent on technology that helps troops on the ground fighting insurgents.

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